Soft Block Printmaking Art Project

Soft carving block — Speedball Speedy-Carve or similar soft blocks designed for kids

Linoleum carving tools (a basic set with V-gouge and U-gouge)

Block printing ink (water-based for easy cleanup)

A brayer (small ink roller)

Paper — cardstock or printmaking paper

A flat smooth surface for rolling ink — a piece of glass, acrylic, or a baking sheet

Pencil for designing and transferring

Draw your design on paper first. Keep it bold and simple — thick lines and clear shapes print best. Remember: the printed image will be a mirror of the block.

Transfer the design to the soft carving block by drawing directly on it or tracing with carbon paper.

Using carving tools, carefully remove material around the design. Always carve away from your hands. What you carve away stays white in the print. What remains gets inked.

Squeeze a small amount of ink onto the flat surface and roll the brayer back and forth until it is evenly coated with a thin, tacky layer.

Roll the inked brayer across the carved block surface. Apply even pressure for consistent coverage.

Lay paper on top of the inked block. Press firmly across the entire surface with a clean brayer or rub with the back of a wooden spoon.

Peel the paper up slowly from one corner to reveal the print. Re-ink and print again — each edition can be slightly different.

Soft carving blocks are much safer and easier to carve than traditional linoleum. They cut like firm butter.

Always carve away from your body and your holding hand. Keep the non-carving hand behind the cutting direction.

Pull at least five prints from each block. The first is a test print that shows where more carving is needed. Refine the block, then print again.

This is how professional printmakers work — the same process used for art prints and book illustrations for centuries.

Sign each print in pencil below the image with the title, edition number, and your name.